When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.

A teenage boy has been told he has to shave off his facial hair to comply with school rules on beards and moustaches.

Oliver Parsell, 14, was told he would have to spend time in isolation for breaking the uniform and appearance rules at Somercotes Academy.

But now his mum Katherine insists she doesn't want Oliver to be forced to start shaving and has launched a petition claiming the rule is a breach of her son’s human rights.

Katherine says: “I am just a mum fighting for change. My son is 14 years of age, and is not as yet ready to begin the lifelong routine and responsibility of shaving. We don’t believe that a school should enforce such policies on children between the ages of 11-16 or even 18 years of age."

Katherine says the school insists being clean shaven is in the guidelines and uniform policy which Tollbar Multi-Academy Trust, which runs Somercotes, has confirmed. But she also says she has been told that being unshaven is “scruffy” and clean shaven is “smart”.

Read More

Related Articles

She said: “I absolutely disagree. I don’t believe that teachers should be going around schools targeting and approaching students to tell them they need to go home and start shaving.

“It is a very personal choice and a very individual characteristic, purely governed by how late or early any child reaches puberty. They have no control at what age their facial hair grows, both boys and girls.

Speaking to BBC Look North, Oliver, from North Somercotes, said he didn’t want to shave.

He said: “I was surprised, it was pretty weird that they were telling me to shave. Some of my friends shave and they have sore faces and it looks horrible.”

In the uniform and appearance rules set out by Tollbar MAT, which runs four secondary schools, Tollbar Academy, Cleethorpes Academy and Louth Academy, parents and pupils are given a list of what is “NOT allowed at all in an academy”.

Read More

Related Articles

Somercotes Acamedy is part of the Tollbar Multi Academy Trust which has the same policy across all its schools

One is: “Beards of moustaches, or sideburns below the earlobes”.

A spokesperson for the school said it has a “very clear dress and appearance policy” and exceptions were only made on religious grounds.

The Trust said it was entitled to set its own standards and they were not breaking any rules or breaching pupils’ human rights. It also said all parents signed an agreement to comply with the school’s policies.

poll loading

Should pupils have to shave facial hair?

500+ VOTES SO FAR

Speaking to BBC Look North, Katherine said: “Oliver was asked to go home and shave what they class as a beard, he has a beard. Initially they wanted to isolate him at any break or lunchtime and he wasn’t allowed to represent the school.

“We’ve pushed forward and he’s allowed to attend freely at school, just like any other pupil, until we can resolve the issue.

“He’s still a child. He’s a young 14-year-old and why should he have to begin the adult part of life which is shaving. It’s a personal, family issue.”

"I believe whole heartily that their policy, and that of any other school that has this kind of shaving policy, infringes on each and every child’s human rights. Human rights are based on dignity, fairness, respect and equality (just to name a few). I believe that my son and any other child should be able to choose when they are ready to begin shaving.”

“I urge you to support us in getting this policy changed and choice put into place for not only my son but all children, and to highlight whether this kind of policy remains suitable today.”

Follow us on Instagram - On the Grimsby Live Instagram page we like to feature great pictures from our area - and if you tag us in your posts, we could repost your picture on our page! Click here to follow Grimsby Live on Instagram.